Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed readiness to engage in peace talks with Russia and finalize a U.S. minerals agreement, days after a high-profile dispute between the two leaders.
Speaking before Congress on Tuesday, Trump read excerpts from what he described as a letter from Zelensky.
“Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians,” Trump quoted Zelensky as saying.
Zelensky also reportedly expressed willingness to work under Trump’s leadership to secure a lasting peace and acknowledged America’s support in maintaining Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The remarks come after a tense Oval Office meeting last week, during which U.S. Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of ingratitude for American military aid, and Trump criticized Ukraine’s bargaining position. The Ukrainian leader left Washington without signing a U.S.-proposed deal granting the United States control over Ukraine’s mineral resources.
Following the fallout, the Trump administration announced a suspension of all military aid to Ukraine, a country that has been battling Russian aggression for three years.
Trump told Congress that the U.S. has also received signals from Moscow indicating a willingness to negotiate.
“We’ve had serious discussions with Russia and received strong signals that they are ready for peace,” he said. “Wouldn’t that be beautiful?”
Zelensky, earlier on Tuesday, said he was eager to “make things right” with Trump, underscoring Ukraine’s strategic need to maintain U.S. support.
Meanwhile, bipartisan members of Congress—many wearing U.S. and Ukrainian flag pins—have expressed concerns over the potential shift in Washington’s stance on Ukraine amid ongoing tensions.
